The murder of Craig Mathieson, the 44-year-old night manager of Hotel 303 in Sea Point, has once again taken centre stage in Cape Town's underworld saga, this time casting a long shadow over the bail hearing of Colin Booysen and five alleged henchmen. Booysen, the younger brother of alleged Sexy Boys gang leader Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, is facing a barrage of charges, including murder, racketeering, and drug trafficking, charges that have sent ripples through the city's criminal underworld.
Booysen's arrest, along with Sillico Oliphant, Moegamat Faizel Abrahams, Herbert Zoutman, Prince Khumalo and John Edward Smith, stems from a series of high-profile murders, including those of Marwaan “Dinky” Desai, the alleged leader of the Nice Time Kids, and his henchman, Shameem Mohammed, in June 2017, as well as the killing of Joburg gang boss Mark “Bin Laden” Groenewald. The group faces over 20 charges, including the alleged smuggling of Mandrax worth R1.8 million.
The details of Mathieson's murder, which occurred in November 2016, have resurfaced during the bail hearings, adding a layer of intrigue to the already complex case. Mathieson, who worked at the hotel owned by controversial businessman Mark Lifman, was shot and killed in a seemingly targeted hit. Nothing was stolen from him or the hotel, leading investigators to believe he was the intended victim.
The case took a dramatic turn when Oliphant and Abrahams, two of the alleged henchmen, were arrested and charged with Mathieson's murder. However, the charges were later withdrawn, a development that has fuelled speculation and raised questions about the true extent of their involvement in the case.
During the bail hearings, Oliphant and Abrahams, in their affidavits, denied any role in the three murders, citing the Mathieson case as evidence of their innocence. They claimed that despite being tortured and charged for Mathieson's murder, the charges were later dropped. They expressed confidence in their acquittal of the current charges, highlighting their personal circumstances in their bail applications.
Colin Booysen, who is the chairperson of the Delft, Belhar and Parow Taxi Association, also appeared in court. He admitted to a previous murder conviction, dating back 19 years, and informed the court that he was currently being held in the hospital section of Goodwood Prison due to abdominal pains. He expressed his willingness to pay any amount of bail money proposed by the court.
The state prosecutor, Denise Greyling, requested a postponement to allow the investigating team to thoroughly probe the information provided in the affidavits of the trio. The case has been postponed to 2 August, leaving the court and the public eagerly awaiting further developments.
The Mathieson murder, a seemingly cold case, has been brought back to life, casting a long shadow over the current proceedings. The details of the case, including the alleged involvement of Oliphant and Abrahams, have added a layer of complexity to the already intricate web of gang violence and underworld dealings that plague Cape Town. The upcoming hearings promise to be a tense and dramatic affair, as the court delves deeper into the intricate details of the case, seeking to unravel the truth behind the murder of Craig Mathieson and the alleged criminal activities of Colin Booysen and his associates.
